Lexical Summary hikanotés: Sufficiency, adequacy, competence Original Word: ἱκανότης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sufficiency. From hikanos; ability -- sufficiency. see GREEK hikanos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2426 hikanótēs – sufficiency bringing competence (ability). This noun is only used in 2 Cor 3:5. See 2425 (hikanos). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hikanos Definition sufficiency NASB Translation adequacy (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2426: ἱκανότηςἱκανότης, ἱκανητος, ἡ, sufficiency, ability or competency to do a thing: 2 Corinthians 3:5. (Plato, Lysias (p. 215. a.) quoted in Pollux; (others).) Topical Lexicon Topical Overview Strong’s Greek 2426 designates the God-given ability that equips believers for life and service. It speaks not of human aptitude improved by grace, but of an adequacy wholly derived from God. The term appears once, yet its single use crystallizes a sweeping biblical principle: every true competency for covenant ministry flows from the Lord. Biblical Occurrence and Context 2 Corinthians 3:5 stands at the turning point of Paul’s defense of his apostolic calling. After asking, “And who is qualified for such a task?” (2 Corinthians 2:16), he answers: “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim that anything comes from us, but our competence comes from God”. The surrounding passage contrasts the fading glory of the Mosaic covenant with the surpassing glory of the New. Paul insists that the ministry of the Spirit cannot be sustained by human resources. Divine competence alone clothes the minister with boldness (2 Corinthians 3:4, 12). Link with Old Covenant Imagery Moses’ radiant face (Exodus 34:29-35) testified to a derived glory. Similarly, Paul’s derived competence under the New Covenant displays God’s initiative. The echo of Exodus underscores continuity: God has always supplied what His servants lack (Exodus 4:10-12; Jeremiah 1:6-9). Sufficiency in the Broader Pauline Corpus Though expressed with different vocabulary, the same truth pervades Paul’s letters: The apostle never credits innate skill; spiritual fruit is credited to the enabling grace that accompanies the gospel itself (Ephesians 3:7-8; Colossians 1:29). Christological Foundation The believer’s competence arises from union with the risen Christ. His finished work inaugurates the New Covenant, sends the Spirit, and grants gifts (John 15:5; 1 Peter 4:10-11). Through the indwelling Spirit, Christ’s own adequacy becomes operative in His people (Romans 8:9-11). Ministry Implications 1. Preaching and Teaching: Authentic proclamation rests on divine competence, not rhetorical brilliance (1 Corinthians 2:1-5). Historical Reception • Chrysostom stressed that the verse silences pride by rooting all ministry in grace. Practical Application for Believers • Dependence: Daily prayer acknowledges, “Apart from You I can do nothing” (John 15:5). Contemporary Relevance In an age that prizes self-reliance, Strong’s 2426 calls the church back to God-reliance. Whether facing secular opposition, internal weakness, or global need, believers serve effectively only as channels of the competence bestowed by their Lord. Forms and Transliterations ικανοτης ικανότης ἱκανότης hikanotes hikanotēs hikanótes hikanótēs ikanotes ikanotēsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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